Cawelo Water District adopted its 2027 budget, raising the developed assessment about $13 to $127 and the Lerdo charge $3 to $84. It approved a uniform 5% delinquency penalty and 9% annual simple interest, reducing dry standby rates while adding interest to winter water. A separate $19-per-acre-foot fee for landowner pump-ins will help offset golden mussel treatment costs.
The board approved a laddered bond-reserve investment strategy targeting a 4.45% net return, compared with about 3.2% in the current money market. Electrical testing at the Friant-Kern Canal pump station is complete, with starter commissioning scheduled for October 15. Golden mussel treatment at Pump Station B is planned through October; Reservoir B dosing is expected to continue two to three weeks longer. Staff relayed reports of no new settlement on another canal.
The board accepted a clean 2025 audit with no findings or control issues. Staff reported the Friant-Kern Canal pump station is nearing completion and should come in under budget. Staff also discussed Poso Creek flood preparations, including staged excavators and new slide gates that can be pulled to open a full 10-foot passage to help manage debris flows.
Staff said golden mussel treatments cost about $540,000 to date, with 2026 totals projected at $620k–$640k; no mussels have been found. KNDLA demand management materials described three ramp-down options, and staff urged a coordinated cross-GSA framework. The Regional Board accepted the CV Salts management zone proposal in July 2026; implementation plan due Jan 4, 2027.
Produced water reuse deliveries began June 22, with flows currently at 0.3 cfs and long-term expectations of 0.6–0.8 cfs. Golden mussel treatment is ongoing with no mussels detected within district boundaries, and county-wide response costs have surpassed $7.3 million. A TNDLA draft groundwater allocation options analysis was reviewed (no policies set); program rollout discussed as 2028 or later.
